Author: sparta

Summary of Apple Intelligence News Alerts on iOS 26

**Apple Intelligence Notification Summaries: Modifications and Updates in iOS 26**

In a notable development, Apple has revived notification summaries for news and entertainment applications in the forthcoming iOS 26 update, after a brief halt in the iOS 18.3 update. This decision follows criticisms from numerous publications, including the BBC, concerning the validity of news headlines presented by Apple Intelligence.

### Background

Originally introduced as a premier feature of Apple Intelligence, notification summaries were intended to streamline user notifications by offering succinct overviews. Nevertheless, the feature encountered backlash for inaccurately representing news content, prompting Apple to deactivate it for news and entertainment applications in January 2025.

### Return of Notification Summaries

With the iOS 26 update, Apple has declared the reinstatement of these notification summaries, incorporating significant modifications aimed at improving user experience and addressing earlier issues. Users experimenting with the developer beta have noted that notifications from news applications now display distinct visual elements compared to summaries from other categories of applications.

### New Visual Treatment

A major update includes the addition of a subtitle in notification summaries for news applications, stating “Summarized by Apple Intelligence.” This subtitle, along with italicized summarized text, sets news notifications apart from those of other applications, which lack this extra context.

### User Interaction Enhancements

Apple has also enhanced user interaction concerning notification summaries. During the onboarding phase, users will be asked to opt-in for notification summarization from news applications. Additionally, the Notification Center will present a one-time prompt inquiring if users wish to “continue summarizing groups of notifications from

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Epic Games Condemns UK’s Vague Digital Markets Regulation; Fortnite’s Comeback Stays Doubtful

**Epic Games Critiques UK Digital Markets Regulation**

Epic Games has voiced its disappointment regarding the recent Digital Markets regulation introduced by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The firm contends that the new guidelines do not fulfill expectations and fail to properly tackle the monopolistic behavior of leading tech giants such as Apple and Google.

### What is Digital Markets Regulation?

The UK’s CMA has recently completed an extensive investigation and suggested that Apple and Google be classified as having “strategic market status” under the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act. This classification subjects these companies to specific regulatory responsibilities, which include:

– Allowing app developers to direct users to alternative payment options.
– Enhancing transparency in app store rankings.
– Submitting to ongoing oversight from the CMA for a duration of up to five years.

The CMA is also set to explore whether Apple should allow alternative app stores on iOS and if users should have the capability to sideload apps.

### Epic Games’ Response

In a blog entry, Epic Games critiqued the CMA’s announcement, emphasizing that it obstructs their capacity to launch the Epic Games Store on iOS in the UK and creates uncertainty about the return of Fortnite to the platform. The firm expressed disappointment that the CMA has overlooked a chance to encourage competition in what they consider a monopolized market dominated by the App Store and Google Play Store.

Epic Games indicated that four years after the CMA acknowledged the monopolistic tendencies of these platforms, minimal progress has been made to support competing app stores. They unfavorably contrasted the UK’s regulatory stance with recent actions in Brazil and Japan, which they assert will aid in the return of Fortnite and the debut of the Epic Games Store.

The blog post also condemned the CMA’s ambiguous statements regarding anti-steering measures, which aim to enable developers to steer customers towards payment alternatives outside apps. Epic Games warned that without robust actions against fees and discriminatory practices enforced by Apple and Google, the prospects for real market competition remain dismal.

### Conclusion

Epic Games has called upon the CMA to rethink its regulatory framework, cautioning that without substantial amendments, the firm may face difficulties in reintroducing Fortnite to iOS in the UK. The ongoing discussion underscores the challenges of regulating powerful tech platforms and the necessity for effective strategies to guarantee competition and consumer options in the digital marketplace.

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Apple News+ Audio Stories Grow Globally Five Years Post-Launch

**Apple News+ Broadens Audio Stories to Three Additional Countries**

Almost precisely five years ago, Apple unveiled a collection of new capabilities for Apple News and Apple News+, featuring audio stories that were initially available solely in the U.S. These audio narratives, which include about 20 professionally narrated segments each week, are now extending to more nations.

### Three Additional Countries Receive Audio Stories

According to MacRumors, Apple News+ Audio is now obtainable in Australia, Canada, and the U.K. Users in these regions can savor audio stories similarly to American subscribers since their debut in July 2020, through the Apple News app and, based on the content, the Podcast app.

For those who might not be acquainted with Apple News+ audio stories, Apple originally declared:

> “Starting today, Apple News will generate approximately 20 audio stories weekly covering a diverse array of topics. Voiced by professional voice actors, these are audio renditions of some of the finest feature journalism and long-form articles published by Esquire, Essence, Fast Company, GQ, New York magazine, Sports Illustrated, TIME, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Wired, and others, alongside newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal. Audio stories are now accessible to Apple News+ subscribers in the US.”

With this latest expansion, audio stories are now offered in all four countries where Apple News and Apple News+ have been launched. The limited regional availability may be due to distribution and contractual arrangements with publishers, as well as the challenges of creating localized content in different languages.

Apple’s continuous investment in the platform is evident, underscored by the introduction of a Food section last year and the recent rollout of a new Emoji Game. Many anticipate that this momentum will ultimately result in a broader global expansion.

Apple News+ is priced at $12.99 per month, which includes a one-month free trial, or as part of the Apple One Premier bundle.

Are you a subscriber to Apple News+? Do you listen to audio stories? Share your insights in the comments.

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